Chapter 3

When we got home, I brought the gift inside. Julian glanced at it. "What's that?"

"A birthday gift for your mother." His mother refused to accept me, and Julian never allowed me to call her "Mom." I could only address her as Mrs. Vance.

"You didn't have to do that. I’ll handle the gifts," Julian sighed, looking exhausted.

"It’s our first year of marriage. I just wanted to be polite. If you think it’s inappropriate, I won't give it to her."

Seeing the disappointment on my face, Julian walked over and kissed my forehead. He gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Just bring it tomorrow."

The next day, Julian took me to the Vance family estate. I presented the necklace I had carefully chosen to Mrs. Vance. She looked at it with pure disdain, then sneered.

"Some people really don't know their place. Copying someone else's gift. How tacky."

I was completely confused. Julian's grip on my hand tightened.

Suddenly, Vivian walked in. Mrs. Vance immediately pulled Vivian into a warm embrace. "Julian, Vivian told me you've been driving her home every day."

Julian nodded. So that was why he had been coming home late. I forced a bitter smile.

"Vivian, dear, I absolutely love the gift you gave me. I had no idea this woman would buy the exact same thing. Did you secretly tell her?" Mrs. Vance asked Vivian affectionately.

Vivian feigned shock. "Oh, maybe Chloe and I just have similar taste! Mrs. Vance, that necklace looks stunning on you. You look absolutely gorgeous."

Mrs. Vance beamed. "You always know just what to say, Vivian. If only you had returned to the country earlier, Julian wouldn't have been snatched away by some gold digger."

Julian made no reaction. He didn't say a single word to defend me.

My heart grew cold, and I quietly walked away.

A few minutes later, Vivian approached me. She still had that sweet, innocent smile on her face. "I'm so sorry, Chloe.

I only found out it was his mother's birthday when I was chatting with Julian last night. Our families have been friends for generations, so I didn't know what to get. I asked Julian what he was planning to buy."

"He sent me a photo of a necklace. I must have misremembered the style and bought the exact same one."

I took a slow sip of my champagne and looked at her. "Right. You must be really stupid then."

Vivian’s smile faltered, and she walked away.

I looked around the room for Julian. As I approached him, I overheard one of his friends asking him, "Do you regret marrying her?"

Julian looked a bit drunk. He didn't notice me standing nearby. He swirled his glass, his eyes misty. "Regret?"

That single word echoed in my ears. It felt like a total erasure of all the happiness we had shared.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and the spotlight hit the stage. Mrs. Vance stood there, holding Vivian’s hand.

"Thank you all for coming to my birthday party. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce someone very special. This is Vivian Thorne, my choice for my future daughter-in-law."

Whispers erupted through the crowd. Everyone in their social circle knew Julian was already married.

"Isn't Julian married? I bet that woman has some kind of dirt on him."

"Or maybe she just used her body to climb up."

"Julian didn't even deny it. It must be true."

"Are they already divorced?"

I hid in a dark corner, downing glass after glass of champagne. The burning alcohol temporarily numbed the agonizing pain in my chest.

Julian walked up to the stage to cut the cake with Vivian. Mrs. Vance watched them with a proud, satisfied smile.

They looked like a real family.

I tilted my head back, my eyes burning.

After the party, Mrs. Vance insisted that Julian and Vivian stay the night. Julian glanced at me. "Chloe should stay, too."

Mrs. Vance glared at him, but Julian ignored her and led me to his room.

Before a relationship completely falls apart, the first sign is always silence.

I lay on the bed and fell asleep. When I woke up in the middle of the night, Julian was gone.

Feeling restless, I decided to go get a glass of water. But as I passed the courtyard, I overheard a conversation.

"You don't have to divorce her right now. Just have her get pregnant first. Vivian keeps saying she’s terrified of the pain and that pregnancy will ruin her body. “

“Once that woman gives birth, you and Vivian can raise the child together."

My entire body began to shake. It wasn't until I heard that familiar, deep voice that I realized how utterly pathetic I was in this relationship.

"I know, Mom."